Pitching Notes: Mets, Rangers, ChiSox, Tribe

Both left-hander Steven Matz and right-hander Seth Lugo will join the Mets’ rotation next weekend for their 2017 debuts, manager Terry Collins announced Saturday (via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). The Mets have been without the pair all season because of elbow injuries, and once they return, righties Robert Gsellman and Tyler Pill will exit the team’s rotation. While righty Matt Harvey has arguably pitched poorly enough to warrant a demotion, the Mets aren’t considering relegating him to the big league bullpen or their Triple-A rotation, according to David Lennon of Newsday. Instead, they’ll continue to give the former ace an opportunity to work his way back from last year’s thoracic outlet syndrome surgery as part of their starting five.

Righty Tyson Ross could start for the Rangers next weekend, though the team hasn’t made a decision yet on when it will activate him, per T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. “It comes down to how he feels the next few days, going through the progression and his overall health,” manager Jeff Banister said of Ross, an ex-Padre who hasn’t pitched in the majors since suffering a shoulder injury on Opening Day 2016. Ross, who underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last October and then signed with the Rangers in the winter, made his third Triple-A rehab start Saturday and allowed two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings (93 pitches).

White Sox southpaw Carlos Rodon, on the shelf all season with shoulder bursitis, is about to take an important step in his recovery. Rodon will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at the Class-A level, which will represent his first game action since a March 19 spring training start, writes Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune. A key piece for the rebuilding White Sox, the 24-year-old Rodon recorded a 4.06 ERA, 9.16 K/9, 2.95 BB/9 and a 44.1 percent ground-ball rate in 165 innings last season.

Indians righty Danny Salazar hasn’t made enough progress since his demotion to the bullpen last week to return to the rotation, manager Terry Francona suggested Sunday (per Robert Falkoff of MLB.com). “He’s got some work to do,” Francona said. “We felt like the best thing to do is keep him where he is and let him keep working more often. He’ll have more chances to throw with shorter segments. He’s still not where he needs to be.” In two appearances and 2 2/3 innings in relief, the flamethrowing Salazar has given up one earned run on four hits and four strikeouts.

Because they want to continue to punish Harvey. This goes way beyond the suspension and missed games. Sir cheapness did not like being made to look dumb when there was an innings limit and Scott boras made them look dumb. Then he
Did the right thing and pitched through the post season which constituted to the 2016
Injury. This may cost Harvey more than the bad team reports.
They are a reckless organization (with ALL of their pitchers) and they want to keep his salary down. Like Harvey or not he has contributed more than all of the long haired pitchers combined.

Matz only made it 4 1/3 innings Saturday throwing 90 pitches and giving up 5 earned. Are they rushing him back? And if the Mets don’t turn it around after these 2 return should they trade some of their non-returning hitters?

Who would you suggest they trade? Almost all of their players, returning or not, are either recovering from injuries ( Cespedes, Duda, d’Arnau), having so so years ( Walker, Cabrera, ), too old ( Granderson , Reyes) or really don’t have a position ( Flores). Bruce and Conforto, and maybe TJR have the highest value right now. Of course they can trade ANYONE, but what value will they get back in return?
All the other MLB teams know the Mets would be trading from a position of weakness and need, which is not a good thing. In fact, the same can be said for the pitching staff except for Jacob, Blevins and Reed.